The day after my last blog post I was chatting to my son about Roald Dahl and as we were getting some needed facts about him I came across this quote;

How perfectly does that match my thoughts around the tap analogy and how perfectly does that match me!! I know my passions can drive those around me mad, because Im not good at sticking with the one plan, the one thing, the one place…… I always believe that there is more just around the corner and that it is worth looking for.

Today has been one of these great Sundays which makes me feel ready for the week ahead. I got up at 7am, got a wash on, clothes folded and put away, the bathroom cleaned, bed made and breakfast ate! Then, just before 10am I set off on a long run. And it was more than lukewarm as I finished 16.83kms. This closely followed by a 5kms walk / jog in our local community.

After a grand total of 22kms I hurt, a lot, but I do feel ready to take on the world….. or at least the week ahead.

So now as I finish watching a girly movie on the couch and before getting some strategic planning for May started I want to tell you something.

Go out there and get hot and bothered about things, places and people you are passionate about!! Have a great May, summer is nearly here. 

I am going to start out this blog talking about a more sombre topic and then I will lead in to some much more Malin related material which I happened upon in conversations this week.

The topic I want to start out on is my take on what I deem to be the “Social Media Poker Face”! Many of us share our stories through a wide range of social media platforms. I am no different and quite enjoy the interaction and the look into other people’s experiences whether every day or exceptional, extraordinary moments.

For me, I was always a “people watcher” (not a stalker…..) and I believe Social Media is todays version of people watching and this is why I enjoy it, most of the time.

However, I also believe that we can through social media truly hide our real life stories behind our poker face. Because let’s face it (no pun intended) not too many of us post pictures or stories about arguments we have, financial struggles we are going through, sadness, exhaustion, depression, loneliness…… and the list goes on. Most of us post happy selfies when the sun shines as we embark on what looks like the journey of a life time.

What we need to remember in all of this is that this is now how the outside world perceives us and even those close to us might struggle to believe that the “real world you” does not feel that good…… Especially if you have an exceptionally good Poker Face.

Just a thought.

The Tap Analogy

My job brings me many places and allows me to meet a lot of people from various walks of life. This is one of the things I enjoy most about my job. (Now I definitely sound like a stalker). When meeting them I take in the things that seem to happen around them, the little things about their personalities and what they say.

This week I had two such conversations that has stayed with me!!

Analogies have always fascinated me and people’s ability to make them up! I am no good at putting them together nor will I ever be!! I might be creative and quick thinking but not for those kind of things. I just complicate them.

But this week I was told one from a work colleague which I thoroughly enjoyed;

We assess risk on a daily basis and this analogy related to that in reference to a tap, yes a water tap. Bear with me here because I probably cant even share it without complicating it;

“If you run the hot tap for too long you will get scalded. Therefore you need to ensure to turn it off from time to time to allow it to cool. Of course you cannot leave it off for too long or you will notice that the water has become freezing cold.  Therefore regular flushing of your taps are advise to ensure that they are continuously lukewarm and as such continuously safe.”

Note that this is an analogy and not a direct safety conversation about taps!!!

What makes it such a great analogy is its ability to fit into so many areas of our lives. Look at friendships, family and that social media poker face. Keep them all lukewarm??!!!

I think, me personally, would be tempted to get burnt every so often!! That’s my wild spirit.

Face Yoga – We Should All Do It

When working on some strategic planning this week myself and a colleague landed, at this stage I don’t remember how, so please don’t ask, on the topic of Face Yoga and one of the core exercises of same being blowing 100 air kisses per day!!!

I would recommend you all to go onto YouTube and search for videos on Face Yoga and then watch and learn the series of exercises you can complete to define your jawline, reduce runners face (yes there is such a thing, which is worrying when you are training for a marathon) and improve any double chins or chicken necks.

So I do believe we should all do it but not for the reason you might think! Sure it will probably have all the benefits we are told about in the tutorials (yes I did check them out) but the absolute best benefit is the laughing!!

Laughing has been proven to;

1. Decrease stress hormones
2. Increase immune cells and as such fight illness
3. Release endorphins which can act as pain relief
4. Give good abs and put our wrinkles in the right places (not so sure about the last one)
5. Make us feel good and increase our confidence
6. Burn calories
7. Connects us with others

On another note, the last one in this fantastic list reminds me of a recent complaint I had when delivering training. Yes complaint, but one I think I can handle. For those of you who don’t know I work in the area of Safety, Health & Wellbeing as an advisor and trainer. So when delivering a 4 day training programme in this topic it was brought to my attention that we had received complaints that we were laughing too much and that we as such were too loud. Never in my career have I been complained for laughing too much and in particular not during a safety course. Who would have thought.

Now of course I also make sure to do Face Yoga everyday while driving my car to work!! Trust me, you nearly break into a sweat!!! 😁 😘

Right about now my youngest turns 10 years of age. Philip Daniel Kelly is officially in his double digits and as a mum I cannot help but to be a little bit melancholic realising how quickly my children are growing up…….

However it also lets me bring back so many memories of this little mites journey in becoming the little handsome boy he is today.

There are two stories in particular that just makes this guy that extra bit special.

How the name got picked!!

My dad passed away less than two months before Philip’s birth.

During one of my last times seeing my dad the name Philip was chosen and this is how. As I was about to leave Sweden and head back to Ireland my dad was resting on the bed. He was quite weak at this time. He was talking about how he wished I could stay until it was all over. He tried to cover up what he had said by saying he meant until I had had the baby but I knew that he really meant until such time as the cancer had beaten him………..

Ok I am back…. This is hard to even write about so a few tissues needed.

As I had given my dad a hug he put his hand on my belly and said…… Philip.

As you can imagine that meant game over when it came to picking a name.

He could have been called Radisson……

The second story, even more dramatic than the first, was how he arrived into this world.

So about exactly now, 10 years ago, our Mazda made it as far as the gates of the Radisson SAS in Limerick leaving us slightly short of reaching County Limerick.

My first contraction had come at 5.22am at which time I got up and started pulling together my packing, having a shower and pottering about before wakening Joe to get him to go milking before we headed to maternity.

With my two girls I had a long time to get organised and ready so I was in no hurry…… Should have know better when I by 7.30 was on all fours in our sitting room not managing to keep up straight with the contraction.

However still content we set off for Limerick shortly after that and even made a pit stop at the petrol station in Darragh where Joe could get himself a breakfast roll. He did ask if I wanted one too but I felt full enough and I was having a chat with my mum at the time.

Going around the roundabout in Ennis I remember hearing a story on the radio about this man who had just delivered his baby at the side of the road, somewhere in Wexford if I remember correctly. I was laughing at this fact……. But not for long.

In around the Newmarket on Fergus sign, for those of you not familiar with County Clare roads this is about 8 minutes later, I turned to Joe and said “We are not going to make it”.

Like a true Irish man he rang…… his mother to tell her to call he Gardai to escort us. He hung up and followed this by ringing her straight back saying “forget about the Gardai, ring the ambulance”.

That was that…… the morning dew was still settling over the fields and trees when Philip was delivered in the front seat of the car at the entrance gates to the Radisson SAS.

It was only once we heard his lungs open that slight panic set in trying to figure out what to do next….. oh and when we realised we actually had a Philip in our hands. Because it is also worthy to add to the story that we didn’t know we were having a boy…… only my dad knew that.

A true test to superstition!

Happy Birthday Philip!

Last Saturday, a week ago today, was my 14,119th time wakening up!! I had never, during any of my previous 14,118 times of wakening up decided to eat and digest a banana and then put on my runners to head out for a morning run.

With a new playlist on Spotify, conveniently christened Running, I set out on ensuring that I could run more than 10kms. During the week, when I did a lunch time run in UL, I had just about mustered it and was getting slightly nervous about the upcoming Marathon, albeit there are 6 months to go.

You can guess that I was very pleased when I finished my run at 15.69kms in 1 hour 46 minutes 38 seconds. That is the longest I have ever ran…… and it felt like an amazing milestone and achievement because I am not a runner.

The best part….. I wasn’t even that sore and went to the beach later that evening for a sandy walk in the sunset.

Soccer Mom

When I ran into that block wall last year, I hid away from some many things. One which was my family, my kids.

This is a regret, although a necessity during this time, that I can only really move forward from. I also believe that it is important to be honest and open about it. Don’t think I am the only one who had to do something like that for survival.

So now as I progress to finding happiness I have taken to ensuring that I play a more active part in the life of my three really wonderful little creations!!

My son thought it was enough that I attended one soccer match to call me Soccer Mom as well as thinking that I needed to stop singing and dancing because that was simply embarrassing. Even a few minutes ago he told me stop bopping with the glow sticks “mam there are people in the house”.

As for my middle lady, nearing 12, she is now at that stage where she doesn’t know if she is a little girl or a teenager. She is one of the kindest spirits I know and will always look after those around her. Bella and myself get on in so many ways and in particular when we dance!! She is not embarrassed. The other night we got to do some dance moves as exercise which had us both sweating!!

And then there is Emma, nearly and adult at 16.5 years…… With her I cannot keep up but we do have some great fun and when she stops growing out of the house for a few minutes we spend some amazing moments laughing, dancing, singing and looking at fashion. This week she even acted photographer taking some decent pictures of her mother. One of my favourites is after a long day at work to be able to throw myself on her bed where we chat about the day or look at some funny snaps!!

I feel I can make up for what I missed last year during all these moments…..

Now, time to feed the army of boys that have landed for the birthday bash! Have a great Saturday.

 

No chocolate…… 

I am really like a big child, which leaves me contrary after the Easter Weekend. This year I didn’t get a single Easter Egg….. nor any other Easter gift.

So I am off the chocolate and had expressed clearly to family and friends not to get me any as I am working to reach Goal 8 before my last birthday in my 30’s! But nothing….. now that requires revenge planning I think!!! Bring on Easter 2019…..

I did however get to to back to hike to the top of Clare this weekend. This time with two great ladies; Lorraine and Edel. We went early (I mean early, thanks Edel) but got to the top with the skies still clear and sunny! It was great to share this special place with some of the special people in my life. We followed this up by lunch in The Piper Inn (YUM) and a quick stop at Wild Irish Chocolates in Tuamgraney where I bought some gorgeous fudge and some chocolate. White of course, that would be my favourite.

That is just a little bit of writing about chocolate…..

The Thumb Tack Theory!!!

So you know by now that I use my own techniques to ensure I maintain motivation to reach all those simple goals of mine.

For my goal to lose weight, I have used a simple visual to keep me motivated. I have a little notice board which looks like a cloud. That I use to symbolise or visualise my dreams…. One at the time of course. It is a little one.

So I have two sets of thumb tacks; one set resembling the weight loss journey I have to achieve in pounds and the other in kilos. Every Wednesday when weigh in occurs any loss (or gain) gets taken off the board.

It is absolutely great to see the numbers shrink and the target nearing.

So that is the Thumb Tack Theory, which I think is a great name by the way!!

Multitasking

I will have to do some bragging!!! Oh well, no, not bragging, simply sharing a proud moment.

This weekend I completed a course in Behavioural Safety Leadership. I will have to say that I found the course super interesting and relevant to both my work and for myself. Excellent content and topics which I want to learn more about.

So the bragging is about the fact that I completed the course and achieved 95% as final score and 97.5% in my final exam!! Learning can be so much fun!!!

Doing this course over  a number of weeks required discipline, focus and multitasking. End result – moving one step in the right direction of Goal 2.

Increasing my reading average!

To finish this blog post I wanted to share a quote which I came across.

I am currently reading a book. Yes you heard me right, I am trying to increase my average per year to start with, then I will move on to be the CEO that reads one per week. The book I am reading is Matthew Syed’s, Black Box Thinking, an excellent read.

In it, I came across a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.”

This quote really hit home with me as we are continuously taught to learn from our own mistakes. Altough that may be true and we do need to make some of our own too, it is worth learning from other peoples mistakes. So thank you Eleanor for those wise words.